Customer Reviews

Wake of the Red Witch [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can't believe this is the first 5-star review of "Wake of the Red Witch". Ever since I was a child it's been one of my very favorite John Wayne films. Maybe it's the greedy quest for the valuable pearls, or the conflict between Captain Ralls (John Wayne) & Captain Sydneye (Luther Adler), who compete fiercely for both the treasure & the lovely Angelique (Gail Russell). Or maybe it's the doomed romance that makes this so watchable. The Duke was awesome with Gail Russell in this classic as well as the wonderful western "Angel & the Badman". John Wayne made some of his best movies in the late 40's, but for some reason this classic (from 1949) has been largely forgotten. Well, at least it's on dvd. The picture quality is very good but unfortunately there are no special features, not even the trailer. If you're a big John Wayne fan & want to see him in a rare non-western role, then this is a definite must-see!

After the classic "Angel and the Badman", DUKE and Gail Russell paired again for this effort, "Wake of the Red Witch".

A tale of the effects revenge, greed, and bittnerness can have on people, the story traces the duel of words and intrigue between two men; Captain Ralls (The DUKE), and shipping magnate Mayrant Sidneye.

DUKE skippers Sidneye's prize ship, the Red Witch, and purposely wrecks her in a plan to cheat Sidneye out of a cargo of gold. Turns out that Sidneye had plotted to steal away DUKE's girl, Angelique Desaix (played by the lovely and angelic Gail Russell).

Tricking DUKE into a fatal confrontation with the girl's father, Sidneye is able to marry Angelique before The DUKE can set things right. This leads to her unhappiness, and The DUKE takes revenge on Sidneye by wrecking the Red Witch.

A wonderful study of greed, revenge, and redmption, we see the tale through the eyes of a young seaman (Gig Young), who Ralls sees as his younger self.

Familiar faces in the cast include Paul Fix, Henry Daniell, Jeff Corey, Erskine Sanford, and Grant Withers.

Gail is gorgeous, as usual.

This seemingly obscure 1949 movie produced quietly during some of John Wayne's greatest years of stardom is an overlooked excellent and well written drama. The movie ties into the original story and actually opens the original book and begins the narration of Chapter one at the hands of the first mate. The story revolves around scuttling a sailing vessel "The Red Witch" that contained a cargo of five million in Gold Bullion. There is competition between the owners and Captain Ralls (John Wayne) who plays an ambivilant character who sides with whatever group is most advantageous at the time. The story is told from the perspective of the first mate and utilized the "flashback" technique similar to "Casablanca" but spends considerable time filling you in on how the present situation developed. Although this is in glorious B&W, the island scenery and romance of the age of sail work wonders along with casual romances and adventure to make this a great and interesting film to watch.

Here is a very average movie that John Wayne made during the most brilliant portion of his career. If you consider that he had just made "Red River", Fort Apache", & "Three Godfathers", and was going on to make "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", "Sand of Iwo Jima", "Rio Grande", & "The Quiet Man"....then you have to say that "Wake of the Red Witch" was just bringing in a paycheck for him. It's overly wordy, and has two extensive flashbacks which only serve to confuse the plot more.

As for the DVD, it's quality is first rate. Artisan has been very spotty putting out the Duke's films on DVD. Some like "The Flying Tigers" have been mastered from original negatives, while others, like "The Quiet Man" look like they came from a fifth generation copy. Anyway, this transfer will not disappoint.

People are wondering why this movie is presented in Full-Screen format. The answer is simple...Widescreen movies weren't made until 1953. This movie was made in 1949. All movies made until 1953 were filmed in the 4:3 ratio. When TV came along, and used the same ratio for picture tubes, the movie execs came up with a wide format to lure back moviegoers.

So, if you see a movie release on DVD, and it was made before 1953, don't look for it in wide screen...

A very interesting and exciting sea picture that involves intrigue, danger, adventure, and romance. What more do you want? In addition to all of the previously mentioned offerings you have a sea monster, ie; a giant squid which is only one of many obstacles that John Wayne has to battle to retrieve valubles located in a sunken freighter.

This John Wayne film is different and unusual in that John Wayne is not the all encompassing heroe that he usually portrays in films. He starts out as a somewhat greedy, deceptive person out to get what he feels he deserves from a former employer and rival, but in the end he finds redemption from his love interest, the very beautiful, Gail Russell, who starred with Wayne in "The Angel and the Badman", another fine Wayne western. Also, in the film is Gig Young, a great, "in my opinion", underrated actor who does a fine job as the character with redeaming qualities, and a friend of John Wayne in the film.

They don't make'm like this anymore! I'm sure you'll enjoy this film, pure adventure, and a film you don't have to analyze, just enjoy!

I recommend purchasing this film. You won't be disappointed!

John E. Matty, Springfield, VA.

I first saw this movie in a theater in the early 1950's [movies stayed on the circuit for years then - big cities, first runs, small towns, then part of double features, etc.]. I was under 10 and it was an amazing movie then. I have seen it many times since and I like it even better now. Sure, the special effects now seem clumsy and dated. But the story is a good one and the battle of wills between Wayne's character and Luther Adler's character is still one of the better done of this type plot device. Wayne was consistently underestimated for years by his peers and critics but the public knew better. Yes, among the hundreds of movies he's in, a good percentage of them are B specials. But, starting with Angel and the Badman [w/ the same lovely Gail Russell as in "Wake..."], he didn't have to bow to anyone. "Wake..." is one of his best along with [imho]: The Cowboys, The Shootist, The Quiet Man, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and maybe True Grit. Even the more venerated and more decorated actors of Wayne's era made clunk movies. And, not all the blame could be cast at the writers/directors... I'll be adding a DVD version of "Wake.." to my Wayne collection. It's a good one! {I'll enjoy watching this one with my grandson in a couple of years.}

1.It is a good movie.
2.You have to like romance.
3.You have to like this pair of actors.
4.You need to like old movies.
If all is true then buy this movie.

What's to say?? It's the Duke!!! One of his best early movies! A don't miss !

John Wayne plays a drunken, embittered sea captain who intentionally wrecks his ship laden with gold. The owner of the ship is a wealthy magnate who used his money and influence to steal a beautiful woman from Wayne, and Wayne is now going to get even. He intends to return to the site of the wreck to collect the gold for himself. After a court of inquiry clears Wayne of responsibility for the wreck, the film takes a long flashback so the audience can learn why Wayne intentionally wrecked his ship and why he hates the owner. The pair battled over the love of a beautiful woman (Gail Russell - what a tragic life, she was so beautiful) who ultimately marries the wealthy magnate. Along the way Wayne tangles with a giant octopus and becomes a god to local natives before the tragic finale.

This is an unconventional role for Wayne; he plays a drunken, embittered captain filled with anger and deep bouts of melancholy. In one of the opening scenes, he beats the daylights out of one of his crewmen in a drunken rage. Unlike many of Wayne's westerns, he does not play the straight and narrow good guy in this film, his role could definitely be characterized as an anti-hero. I'm generally a big fan of Wayne's films, some of the other reviews rate this as their favorite. I personally think there are several better JW films (Rio Bravo being my personal choice), but this is still a good story. There is not much in the way of extras on this DVD, but the price is pretty easy on the wallet. A typical good John Wayne film, if not uniquely outstanding.